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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 97

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1974 Concordia Seminary St. Louis “Walkout” with Thorough Teaching about the
Controversy and Renewed Emphasis on the Pure Doctrine

reach of our extensive parochial education system. We call it
Parochial Education 2.0 (Res. 12-01).
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We offer a wide range of services to our church workers regarding mental health (Res. 3-04A).

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We will encourage our circuit visitors to have all district pastors’ PIF/SET updated during this triennium (Res. 6-04).

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We have worked to ensure that we are in compliance with
the Synod relative to licensed lay deacons.

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R-01-07-21: To Encourage Further Consideration of Successful Completion of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP)
Coursework before Ordination and Placement on Ordained
Roster

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Building an Ethic of Bible Reading

R-02-01-21: To Commend and Support the Work of Trinity
HOPE in Haiti

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During this triennium, the district will work toward more disciplined Bible reading. Our annual theological conference explored
the topic The Word Works. With our faith formed by Scripture, our
people are able to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and fully communicate the Synod convention theme, We Preach Christ Crucified.

R-02-02-21: To Continue a Relationship with the Southeast of Lake Victoria Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Tanzania

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R-02-03-21: To Continue a Relationship with the Confessional Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar

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R-02-04-21: To Reaffirm Church Planting and Revitalization

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R-02-05-21: To Encourage Financial Support for Professional Church Workers

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R-02-06-21: To Encourage All Christians in Personal Witnessing

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R-02-07-21: To Address the Use of Technology in the Life
of the Church and the Ministry of Congregations

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R-02-08-21: To Encourage Congregational Men’s Ministry

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R-02-09-21: To Encourage the Study and Use of Biblically
Based Stewardship Resources

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R-03-01-21: To Give Thanks to God for Sustaining His
Church through the Global Corona Virus Pandemic

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R-03-02-21: To Increase the Awareness of Human Trafficking to the Congregations of the Mid-South District and The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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R-03-03A-21: Protect Christian Consciences

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R-03-04A-21: To Reject Racism and Advance the Gospel

Leadership Pipeline
We are building a coordinated effort to raise up workers through
an integrated pipeline. That pipeline includes generous support of
and encouragement to our young people to attend our Concordia
Ann Arbor, another Concordia, or one of our seminaries. The recent
Here We Stand capital campaign raised $1.73 million for financial
assistance to professional church work students. Respecting recent
Synod resolutions, we also have a robust deacon training program
that provides congregations with credentialed deacons, and many
congregations are utilizing the Specific Ministry Pastor program.
Additional aspects of the pipeline include utilizing EIIT and CHS
routes to ordination as we seek to serve the growing number of
immigrants with the Gospel. We will identify and train more of
their own spiritual leaders as qualified and gifted pastors, teachers,
evangelists, etc. We also provide regular conferences for pastors,
teachers, commissioned workers, and circuit visitors. In fall 2023,
we will hold a professional church worker conference, where we
expect over 1,000 in attendance.
David A. Davis, President
R32

Mid-South District
The 21st regular convention of the Mid-South District was held
in July 2021, following the normal convention cycle. The dedicated pastors, teachers, principals, DCEs, and lay members of our
123 congregations, 9 schools, 22 early childhood centers, and affiliated agencies joined together to Declare His Marvelous Works,
the theme of our convention, based on 1 Chronicles 16:23–24. The
Mid-South District is blessed with ministries throughout Tennessee; Arkansas; Kentucky; Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Olive Branch, Mississippi; and Abingdon, Virginia. Despite not being able to worship
in person for months, our steadfast parishioners continued to support the mission and ministry of the district as well as the LCMS at
large. Thanks be to God!
The 2021 Mid-South District convention passed the following
resolutions:
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R-01-01-21: To Memorialize the Next Synodical Convention to Mark the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with More
Fervent Teaching, Proclamation, and Efforts to Promote
God’s Gift of Life

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R-01-02-21: To Memorialize the Next Synodical Convention

The Mid-South District remains committed to our missions
and ministries, along with providing support for our professional
church workers, our congregations, and our education ministries.
The congregations and schools of the Mid-South District remain
strong and vibrant. The commitments from our member congregations remain stable, thus providing essential dollars to continuously support mission and ministry efforts within the district and
around the world.
Congregation commitment dollars are used to support program
services of the Mid-South District, not support services that encompass management and general areas.
Church planting remains a top priority. There are currently nine
active church-plant sites in the Mid-South District. Additionally,
the district supported a Hispanic church plant, an African American
mission, and international missions in Tanzania (SELVD), Trinity/
HOPE missions in Haiti, and the Malagasy Lutheran Church and
its LIME (university) Institute.
After the 2019 Synod convention, the Mid-South District continued its work on the Generation to Generation (G2G) initiative,
which develops materials and training to reach future generations
to become active and supportive church members. The Youth and
Family Ministry Committee concluded its beta-study with several
congregations and continues its work of presenting Generation to
2023 Convention Workbook